Sarah Fish

Sarah Lea Fish (Mathis) passed away in her home in Vinland, KS October 1, 2021. She was 87 years old.

Sarah is survived by her children Ted (Julie) Fish of Fayetteville, AR; Roni (Bill) Visalli of Baldwin, KS; Tim (Cynthia) Fish of Wichita, KS; Lisa (Shawn) Smith of Vinland, KS; Julie (Jeff) Porter of Little River, KS; Jason (Traci) Fish of McPherson, KS; 24 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren with one on the way.

Sarah was preceded in death by her husband Sam of 66 years, an infant daughter, Terri Fish, her parents, Joshua and Myrtle, a brother, George Wayne Mathis, and 3 sisters, Bernice Sweeten, Ellabelle Shackleton, and Clara Frost.

Sarah was born January 12, 1934 in Pawnee, MO. She was the daughter of Joshua and Myrtle (York) Mathis. Sarah graduated from Eagleville High School in 1951 where she earned a letter playing volleyball. She was married to the love of her life Elmer Samuel “Sam” Fish on June 17, 1951. Sam and Sarah rejoiced at the birth of their first child, Terri Lynn on June 27, 1952. Their hearts were broken when Terri suddenly passed away early the next morning. They mourned this loss for the remainder of their lives. 

Sarah was a lifelong homemaker. She was a talented seamstress and spent many hours sewing and mending clothes for her family as well as using her talents to support charitable outreach efforts by making clothes for the needy. Sarah was known for her beautiful crochet work. For many decades she made gifts of baby blankets, doilies and afghans for friends and family members. Sarah was an excellent cook. She prided herself on keeping her family well fed with home cooked meals that often included vegetables she had canned herself. Her canned green beans and homemade pickles were the stuff of legends. She was an avid reader and could have filled a library with the volumes of books she read in her lifetime. Sarah loved watching Royals baseball, Chiefs football and KU basketball games on television. In later years when arthritis stole from her the ability to sew and crochet, Sarah enjoyed computer puzzles and other games. 

Sarah’s greatest achievement in life was raising six awesome children.  Each one of her kids is certain they were her favorite because that’s how she made each of them feel.  She was each child’s first teacher spending countless hours reading to them while they sat on her lap in her rocking chair. It is impossible to calculate how much she sacrificed in order to provide the best home possible for her family. It was Sarah’s greatest joy in life to rock her babies to sleep. All six of her kids remember the love and security of being sung to sleep to the words of “My Kitty” and “Way Up High in the Cherry Tree.” As her children grew and began having children of their own, Sarah loved visiting with grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren and hearing about their accomplishments. 

Sarah was a lifelong member of the church of Christ. She made sure that each of her children was involved in Bible class and worship services each week. She was a Sunday School teacher and helped with Vacation Bible Schools, church camps and hosted church get togethers in her home. She loved singing church hymns and often listened to recorded music humming along as she cared for her home. 

Visitation with family present will take place Friday, October 8, 2021 from 12:00p.m. to 2:00p.m. at Lamb-Robert-Price Funeral Home, Baldwin City, KS. Congregational singing will take place from 1:30p.m. to 2:00p.m. A graveside service will be held following the visitation Friday at Vinland Cemetery at 2:30p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Carpenter Place c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, Kansas 66006 in lieu of flowers. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.
 

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